Posted on 02/07/2009 6:30:18 PM PST by pabianice
In my “Another Innuendo Over a CBO Report: TRICARE For Life,” I pointed to a message from a “BG Bob Clements, USAF Ret (P38 Bob)” that is making the rounds through the internet, claiming:
Seems as though our President has placed a priority on cutting [TRICARE For Life] out of the budget as a means to provide funding for those things he promised during the campaign…Just another move to slight those of us who dedicated much of our adult lives to the defense of our country.
Tricare For Life (TFL) was instituted just a few years ago to correct the broken promise that veteran military retirees would receive free healthcare coverage for life. It covers the Medicare co-pay amount.
A heavy assault has begun on military veteran's retiree benefits in order to pay for the things the current democratic president promised during his campaign . It's a high priority of this administration.
It should be an item of high interest to the retired military community. If approved by congress this first assault wave would hit in 2011 and it would hit hard. It would initiate TFL cost sharing requiring military retirees over 65 to pay the first $525 of medical cost and then 50% of the next $4,725. This could amount to a first year cost of $2,888 per person. It would be indexed to increase with inflation. A reason given for this action (for PR effect) is "overuse" by retirees.
For those of you who are covered by TFL you'll want to pay attention (below) to what has surfaced about the future of TFL.
On page 189 of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, (see the note below on how to get to that spot), there is a strong recommendation to eventually eliminate the TFL program as it is too expensive.
Another move to slight those who dedicated much of their adult lives to the defense of the country.
It's strongly recommended that all retired military vets contact their elected officials and register strong opposition to the addition of fees or the elimination of the TFL program.
At the CBO web site, please see:
a. Budget, Options, Volume 1: Health Care (http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9925)
For those who have never opened one of these web sites from OMB : 1. double click on the above URL 2. click on PDF 3. click on the binoculars 4. do a search for TFL It's guaranteed that if you sit on your behind and do nothing as these options are brought forward in the coming year, you'll lose a great health care benefit that Medicare eligible retired military have. It's a bit short of promises made that were fought so hard for back in the late 90s and early 2000s, but it's still one of the best health care programs anyone in the United States has.
Washington's professionals always look for the channel of least resistance when it comes to cutting programs and budgets. Military retirees are one of those channels of least resistance. They're noted for sitting around, doing nothing, and waiting for 'old Joe' to do something for them. They need to wake up and take action. Their medical benefits are a prime target. Don't lose out due to apathy.
One way to secure the TFL benefit is to write your elected congressional representatives -- those in both the House and the Senate. And, keep writing, and writing, and writing. ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH!! Keep repeating until you are blue in the face. Remember the old adage, 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease'.
Now, this concerns the younger military retirees out there, those who aren't on Medicare and TFL yet. Health care will eventually become a dominating factor in your life! Remember that -- it will impact you big time in your later years, unless you're fortunate(?) enough to die young from a heart attack or being run over by a truck. By acting now you can save that TFL benefit you'll be eligible for when you reach Medicare age.
The various service organizations that we belong to will put up a fight, but, they can't do it alone. They'll need your help.
If you're an Obama fan, and believe that change cometh, the TFL option proposed by OMB is change in the wrong direction. And, it won't fade away of its own accord. The current in-power administration needs to save the money they now spend on TFL in order to finance their other programs. Yes, programs for people who produce nothing but votes to keep the politicians in office.
Please forward this on to those you know that are Retired Military.
Yup, when the Obamaloons call on the military (and they’re going to have to), it’ll be interesting to observe which way the guns will point.
All I’ve seen for quite awhile is that veterans didn’t like Bush and he didn’t support them. I’m not saying if this was the case or not, but it’s all I’ve found when researching this topic.
So it seems a number of vets supported Obama. And so they’re screwed again, by both parties. Disgraceful.
I’d be more than happy to receive any links to data supporting one side or another on this, btw.
More than sadly; it will be ‘predictable’. . .
“And so they’re screwed again, by both parties.”
How does that make them different from the rest of us???
I have all the respect in the world for the military, but more that you’d want to believe voted for the tool.
I’m sure many of these retirees did too.
I hate to say....we told you so!!! GG
Gee I thought that this was the party that said Bush didn’t do enough for our veterans..what happened?
Shame on them
This is going to be us very shortly...hubby retires officially 29 March. Needless to say I’m not surprised he would consider cutting this out.
The rest of us aren’t as dependent on the smooth delivery of government services, and we aren’t dependent on them due to military service to the rest of the population.
When I retired they told me "Parr B for thee after 65".
SO the TFL is a fairly recent add on, and for those that live near a facility - great.
But I am still going to be looking at supplemental insurance as well.
I have to wear leg braces because of injuries I received in Iraq. I give thanks to the ignorant voters who got zero in office.(sarc) This is going to be a long four or heaven forbid eight years
Curious as to where you have seen “All I’ve seen for quite awhile is that veterans didn’t like Bush and he didn’t support them.”
Please post.
Al
Tricare and Tricare for life serve you wherever you are. You don’t have to live near any “facility”. It is just like most insurance programs. You see a network provider and pay a co-pay. If you are on Medicare you don’t pay anything. Tricare isn’t free but it is dirt cheap. I might be forced to shoot someone if they end either one of these programs.
So, what is the truth?
You know - White man talk with forked tongue?
I think you are confused.
Google: Bush veterans
Most likely - I have been confused for years.
But, I am completely out of debt, own my own home and have money in the bank - so I guess I am doing some things OK.
All “benefits” from the FedGov - civil or military - can be erased with the stroke of the pen.
Always been that way, its always gonna be that way.
Just ask the Indians. They can tell us all about broken promises from the FedGov.
BTW, thank you for your service to the Nation.
And there is little to nothing I (and I suspect you ) can do about it.
So the guy from Kenya who promised government health care for all starts out by taking it away from veterans?
Just think how services will be rationed to political undesirables, while “friends” of the government get preferential treatment.
Thank you for your service, and I’m actually proud now that I held my nose and voted for McCain. He’d never be pushing this on the public or the veterans that gave us our country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.